C29 The Court's Decision

Artemis Pov

Freya was fu-cking sexy in that dress she was wearing. No mate in his normal self would let such a hot and really sexy mate wander off alone but business called, and I had to pick up. Those damn meetings.

Even as she walked away, my eyes lingered on her retreating form. As she trotted further from me, staring at the art work on the wall I couldn’t freaking tear my eyes from her. She was the art itself in this place to me. Her whole existence was art and a real masterpiece. Freya was beautiful, to me beautiful could not properly describe her. It was unfitting for her.

When she was out of sight, I got my will back and the invisible glue that had me stuck to the ground vanished. The cloud of Cupid hovering over my head disappeared and I was me again. It was like I had been released from a spell, her spell.

“This way alpha,” a guard said to me, directing me towards the path to a door.

The gallery must’ve been a show and a way to attract more investors, but the place in real was a working morass, a war front just like the multi-billion dollar group. And our little mate may wander into one herself. Everyone was all sticking out their neck for their own selfish interest. They wouldn’t stop to trample on anyone. This place was filled with predators with fangs protruded out, ready to gnaw at any prey in sight. Hungry predators starving for powers.

I should go in search for her

You just want to make up an excuse to see her, my subconsciousness said, tagging me as needy and that was one thing I was not.

Taking one last glance at the direction I had last seen Freya vanish into, I started walking towards the door in hesitation.

She’s not that little, she has advanced in her training, she can take care of herself. Those were the words I used to assure myself that she was safe and hopefully would not walk into any quicksand.

I trotted into the room, one least excited to be here.

“Alpha,” they acknowledged in unison.

I nodded and waved off the fake pleasantries. They couldn’t wait to show their canines and teeth. Just fake pretentious people out to devour me but I was a bigger predator, I was at the apex of the feeding chain and they knew that so clearly well.

“Why have you called this meeting, we’re in the middle of grabbing investors and you decided to do this now?” I asked with crystal distaste and not to sum it up they were all interrupting my time with my mate.

“Oh no need to worry, the meeting would be brief,” one member said,

“We wouldn’t want to interrupt your precious time with your mate,” another added. His voice dripped with boredom, anyone could easily decipher that he was one least interested in this. I also didn’t miss the way his voice changed drastically at the mention of mate.

They were bittered and angry, I knew. If not their voices, their eyes held all the bitterness like vile, their tongue ready to spit venom. Their brain, a working factory for evil. Everyone was out to save his or her skin while their face contorted into that of a pleasant smile. They all summed up to two words. two faced

“We were talking and we concluded on one important question; is she fit to be the Luna of this pack?” That was Jude the mother fucker spewing waste as usual from his mouth. And the she was Freya.

“We heard whose daughter she is, is she safe?” Another asked.

I saw what was happening here, they all pestered me to get myself a mate less I’ll lose my position and now they didn’t want me to have a mate, a Luna, at least not Freya. They were already fighting her even before she climbed up the ladder by my side. They were scared of her. Jude of course, had no doubt filled them with all the information about her. One that was occupied with aspersions on her.

Simple; since she was an omega since five and made to clean and walk as a maid all her life, few months on being my mate and she was already exhibiting the true characteristics of a Luna, like she had been one all her life. She’s smart, beautiful, strong and determined in dire times. It was only practical to be scared of her, and not to add the daughter of Demitri. They feared what could happen if I and her come together not only in bed but in power. They knew, and I knew that it was gonna be a game changer.

I scoffed. Their fear was going to come true. I could fu-cking smell it like rotten meat and I caroused in it like a damn addict.

“Yes she’s the daughter of Demitri,” I confirmed,

“And you’re… ummm okay with that?” Asked one in a trembling tone.

“Yes, I am,” I answered firmly, making them share an uncomfortable stare.

“Does she know the truth?” Jude asked courtly, eyeing me for a knowing answer.

“Yes she does,” I said. They didn’t have to know that, should they know they’d plot my fall more quickly than I thought.

He stared at me for a long beat before giving me one of those gut punching smiles.

“Okay, if you are so adamant on having her by your side and as your vice chairman in the court then we, the inner court must be assured that she’s capable of leading this pack,” Jude brought up. A little twinkle of delight played at the corner of his wrinkled eye.

What was this mother-fucker up to?

“She’s worth it and she’s strong and determined enough,” I insisted, not wanting them to have a chance to set her up. That’s what they were at.

“We’ll be the one to decide that. She’s your mate after all,” Jude said with a grin. One that was rather in his eyes instead of his face. His expressions were mirrored by all in the room. And they relished in that.

“She would have to train better,” Grey said, another snake in the house.

“She trains all day,” I told him, “how much more does she have to do?” I asked skeptically.

“Just enough to be alive,” Jude said. My brows contorted into an inquisitive manner. Where was this heading?

“What are you insinuating?” There was only one way for the pack warriors to train, and one way for them to remain alive——

“She’ll have to fight her way into the court,” Jude spat out completely, by now he could no longer hide the grin that spelt out on his face. His excitement.

That was what I feared, Freya having to go into battle. She was smart but hell she wasn’t ready and he knew that. They all knew that.

“Do you intend to have her killed?” I snapped with fury in my eyes and vein.

“That’s why we said she should train, she has until next week—-“ he didn’t get to complete his statement before he collided with the wall, my hand wrapped around his neck.

I didn’t give to fuck if I wasn’t supposed to do that.

“She would not fight,” I commanded.

“Then we will not acknowledge her as Luna,” Jude said and I threw him a glare. Grey’s neck was still infixed in my palm. He didn’t let his fear show but his eyes gave it out and the trembling from his body.

“She’ll fight the best female warrior then,” Grey said. I whipped my attention back to him.

“Alpha Artemis need I remind you that what you’re doing is highly unacceptable,” jude called out.

“I don’t give a fuck about that,” I hissed.

“You will,” he said in a room-dropping tone.

Who the hell did he think he was to use my father’s tone on me!!

My blood boiled and I was hot from anger like a lava. I hurled Grey’s body across the room and took slow but large strides towards Jude.

“I don’t care who the fuck you are but you will obey me because I am your alpha!” I commanded.

“Yes alpha,” he answered politely. I used the alpha command on him. No one dare defies me and goes scot free.

His nose flared and the side of his eyes twinkled with contending fury.

“Freya would fight with Merona,” he said, “alpha,” with a bow and walked out on me.

It was time to pay an old friend a visit and to strike a deal. My pack members would not disrespect me.

For the main time I have to go look for Freya. I wasn’t ignoring the call that she could be in danger.